Keraia
Leviticus 11

Leviticus 11:22

Clean and Unclean Animals · Leviticus 11:1–47
Read Leviticus 11

Translations

Modern
Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper.
Traditional
Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.
Literal
These from them you may eat: The locust according to its kind, and the katydid according to its kind, and the cricket according to its kind, and the grasshopper according to its kind.
Latin
…comedere debetis, ut est bruchus in genere suo, et attacus atque ophiomachus, ac locusta, singula juxta genus suum.

Original

Hebrew
English
Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper.

Notes

Leviticus 11:21–22

insects that walk on all fours: those having jointed legs above their feet: This phrase excludes creatures that creep or crawl close to the ground (Leviticus 11:27). Leviticus 11:42 says that creatures with many legs, like centipedes, are ceremonially unclean. Locusts and grasshoppers are examples of ceremonially clean insects (see Matthew 3:4).

Leviticus 11:1–15:33

These chapters explain the rules about purity. Mixing different types of animals was forbidden (see Deuteronomy 22:9–11). This is because it opposed God's natural order. Creatures like fish without fins and scales, meat-eating animals, crawling insects, and animals without split hooves were considered "abnormal." They crossed the boundaries between "normal" types and were not suitable for food or offerings (see also Deuteronomy 14:1–21). The dietary laws intended to set Israel apart as a holy people from other nations (Leviticus 11:44–45).

Parallels

Deuteronomy 14:1–21 Acts 10:9–16

Glossary

Animals Bald Locust Beetle Biblical Concept of Law Buzzard Cleanness and Uncleanness, Regulations Concerning Cricket Deuteronomy, Book of Dietary Laws Food and Food Preparation Gospel of Matthew Grasshopper History of Israel Law of Moses Leviticus, Book of Lizard Locusts Medicine and Medical Practice

Topics

Animals: Ordained As Food for Man Beetle: Authorized As Food Creeping Things: A General Term for Animals Creeping Things: Clean Food: Things Prohibited As Food Insects: Bald Locust Insects: Beetle Insects: Clean and Unclean (Ceremonially Speaking) Insects: Divided Into: Clean and Fit for Food Insects: Grasshopper Locust: Authorized As Food Locusts Sanitation: Food The Locust: Clean and Fit for Food